FO rubbishes India's 'cynical and diversionary' comments on Pakistan's Shia community as 'exercise in deflection'

Says India should refrain from making 'unfounded and politically motivated statements about others'

The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday rejected remarks by the Indian foreign ministry spokesperson regarding Pakistan’s Shia community as “cynical and diversionary" that were intended to deflect from the neighbouring country's own human rights record on minorities.

The statement followed comments by India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Andhir Jaiswal, during his weekly press briefing on Friday, about the Shia community and the army chief.

In response, the FO issued a statement today saying: "Pakistan rejects India's remarks as cynical and diversionary-an exercise in deflection masquerading as concern.

“India’s comments cannot mask its own record of the steady normalisation of discrimination and violence against Muslims, Christians, and other marginalised communities — from curbs on worship to mob vigilantism and the targeting of homes and livelihoods. These patterns are well documented."

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Statement by the Spokesperson in Response to the Statement Made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs

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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 28, 2026

Highlighting incidents against minorities in India, the FO said the escalating wave of mob lynchings targeting Muslims was “deeply abhorrent” and underscored a climate of unchecked brutality.

“In 2025, more than 55 Muslims were reportedly lynched in India, and since January 2026, over 19 Muslims have been killed by violent mobs. Extremist groups have unlawfully sought the destruction of 11 mosques. Perpetrators of crimes against Muslims often act with impunity, enabled by state patronage, and are seldom held to account,” he added.

The statement urged India to address these "serious and well-documented concerns" within its own borders, ensure the protection of Muslim, Christian and other communities in accordance with its constitutional and international obligations, and refrain from making “unfounded and politically motivated statements about others”.

Read: Violence linked to foreign incidents will not be tolerated in Pakistan: CDF Munir

Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of minorities in India at multilateral forums. Islamabad argues that discriminatory policies and communal violence undermine social cohesion and regional stability.

Last year, mobs wielding wooden sticks damaged Christmas decorations at a shopping mall in central India, while right-wing groups disrupted school festivities and set holiday merchandise on fire in the northeast, the Indian media reported. The incidents took place in Chhattisgarh, Assam, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh ahead of the holiday season.

India's Muslim community - approximately 14 per cent of the population - has borne the brunt of the most severe attacks, facing widespread social exclusion and ghettoisation

Prime Minister Modi’s government, which is closely aligned with right-wing Hindu groups, has faced growing criticism for its failure to address the rising tide of hate and violence against Muslims.

In May last year, following the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the rise of Hindutva music and the demolition of Muslim homes further fueled anti-Muslim sentiment.

Pakistan maintains that protecting minority groups is a shared international responsibility and urged states and global human rights bodies to monitor closely developments affecting vulnerable communities in the region.